Transmission with resistance torque control

Abstract

In the basic embodiment, the transmission includes (a) a minimal-orbiter gear complex having only a control gear and an output gear interconnected by the gearing portions of at least one cluster gear supported by an orbiting web responsive to an input drive provided by a primary engine and (b) a single, infinitely-variable rotary control device providing resistance torque to counter engine torque to slow and stop the control gear of the orbital complex. The rotary control device, which may be a hydraulic jack or an electrically braked magnetic wheel, provides no propelling motion but rather only provides a resistive torque. In a preferred embodiment for automotive use, the engine torque is split at all times between two mechanical paths. One path drives the web of a minimal orbiter gear set, and the other drives the sun gear of a single, standard planetary gear set.

1 . A transmission for a primary engine, the transmission comprising:
 a rotary control device; and   an orbital gear complex comprising only:
 an orbiter web mounted for rotation about a first axis and responsive to an input drive provided by the primary engine; 
 a control gear mounted for rotation about the first axis and responsive to a control drive provided by the rotary control device; 
 an output gear mounted on the first axis; and 
 at least one cluster gear mounted for rotation on an orbit shaft positioned parallel with the first axis and supported on the orbiter web in mesh with only the control gear and the output gear to permit the orbit shaft and the cluster gear to orbit, respectively, the first axis and the control gear and output gear; 
   wherein a first gear tooth ratio between the cluster gear and the control gear and a second gear tooth ratio between the cluster gear and the output gear are selected such that, when rotation of the control gear is prevented, rotation of the orbiter web produces rotation of the output gear at a predetermined overdrive of the input drive provided by the primary engine.   
   
   
       2 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the rotary control device comprises a resistance apparatus for developing a resistance torque sufficient to match a torque of the primary engine for slowing rotation of the control gear. 
   
   
       3 . The transmission of  claim 2 , wherein the rotary control device is connected to the control gear through a control drive reduction gear at a predetermined ratio. 
   
   
       4 . The transmission of  claim 3 , wherein the control drive reduction gear provides a torque resistance to the rotation of the control gear of at least the same predetermined reduction as input drive torque of the primary engine is provided to the control gear. 
   
   
       5 . The transmission of  claim 2  further comprising a lock having activated and deactivated conditions, and wherein, when the resistance torque is sufficient to stop the rotation of the control gear, the lock is activated to hold the control gear in its stopped position. 
   
   
       6 . The transmission of  claim 5 , wherein the primary engine and transmission are operatively connected to a plurality of wheels of an automotive vehicle that comprises:
 the primary engine;   a vehicle speed-change apparatus controllable by an operator of the vehicle for making desired changes in vehicle operations;   a sensor for monitoring the movement of the control gear; and   a computer with interconnections to the vehicle speed-change apparatus, the primary engine, and the sensor.   
   
   
       7 . The transmission of  claim 6 , wherein the rotary control device and the lock comprise a hydraulic jack. 
   
   
       8 . The transmission of  claim 7 , wherein the hydraulic jack comprises a single hydraulic machine comprising:
 a plurality of pistons in cylinders with input and output ports connected through only a minimal passage closable by a fluid valve; and   a drive shaft connected to an adjustable swash plate for varying a hydraulic pressure in the machine.   
   
   
       9 . The transmission of  claim 8 , wherein when the swash plate of the hydraulic jack machine is set at a swash plate angle of 0° and the fluid valve is open, the drive shaft and swash plate are unlocked to freely rotate without causing a significant increase in the hydraulic pressure in the machine. 
   
   
       10 . The transmission of  claim 9 , wherein the fluid valve and the swash plate of the hydraulic jack machine are adjustable such that the hydraulic pressure in the machine is increasable to provide a resistance torque preventing rotation of the control gear, the hydraulic jack machine thereby providing a resistance torque to decrease a rate of rotation of the control gear proportional to the increase of the resistance torque. 
   
   
       11 . The transmission of  claim 6 , wherein when the vehicle is stopped and the primary engine is operating, the computer deactivates the lock and permits the control gear to rotate without resistance torque from the rotary control device. 
   
   
       12 . The transmission of  claim 11 , wherein when activation of the vehicle speed-change apparatus by the operator indicates a desired increase in vehicle speed, the computer initiates the creation of resistive torque by the rotary control device for slowing the speed of rotation of the control gear. 
   
   
       13 . The transmission of  claim 12 , wherein the rotary control device comprises an electro-magnetic brake. 
   
   
       14 . The transmission of  claim 13 , wherein the electro-magnetic brake comprises:
 a magnetic wheel connected for rotation with the control gear, the magnetic wheel having at least one magnet mounted in proximity to a circumferential surface thereon;   a source of electrical energy; and   a coil mounted independently of, and proximate to, the magnetic wheel, the coil being responsive to electrical energy for generating a magnetic field aligned to oppose the magnetic alignment of the magnet such that when electrical energy is delivered to the coil, the magnetic field alignments oppose each other with a resistance torque sufficient to match the torque of the primary engine for slowing rotation of the control gear.   
   
   
       15 . The transmission of  claim 1 , wherein the input drive comprises a crankshaft of the primary engine aligned with the first axis, and wherein the orbiter web further comprises:
 a pair of separated support elements for mounting the orbit shaft of the cluster gear; and   a drive element fixed to and positioned between the support elements to allow the cluster gear to rotate freely, the drive element being fixed for rotation with the input drive; and   wherein the control gear is mounted on a hollow shaft that circumscribes the crankshaft.   
   
   
       16 . The transmission of  claim 5 , wherein the primary engine and transmission are operatively connected to a plurality of wheels of an automotive vehicle by a vehicle drive shaft, the transmission further comprising:
 an accumulator apparatus connectable to the vehicle drive shaft;   an energy storage facility; and   an accumulator control for activating the accumulator apparatus:
 to collect energy from the drive shaft when the vehicle is standing or slowing and store collected energy in the storage facility; and 
 to retrieve energy from the storage facility when the vehicle is accelerating and deliver energy to the vehicle drive shaft. 
   
   
   
       17 . The transmission of  claim 16 , wherein the accumulator apparatus comprises an accumulator hydraulic machine and the energy storage facility comprises a first tank of supply fluid and a second tank for holding pressurized fluid. 
   
   
       18 . The transmission of  claim 16 , wherein the accumulator apparatus comprises an electric generator/motor and the energy storage facility comprises an electric storage battery. 
   
   
       19 . The transmission of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a single planetary gear set having only:
 a sun gear responsive to the input drive provided by the primary engine; 
 a planet carrier having planet idler gears for providing the output for the transmission; and 
 an outside ring gear meshing with the sun gear through the planet idler gears; 
   the ring gear being connected to the output gear of the orbital gear complex to provide a feedback torque to the control gear of the orbital gear complex that opposes the resistive torque of the rotary control device to decrease the rate of change in the ratio between the input drive provided by the primary engine and the output of the transmission from a highest reduction to the predetermined overdrive.   
   
   
       20 . The transmission of  claim 19 , wherein:
 when rotation of the planet carrier is prevented, the ring gear rotates in a direction opposite to the sun gear input drive;   when the planet carrier begins to rotate in the same direction as the sun gear input drive and then begins to increase speed, the opposite rotation of the ring gear decreases proportionally until the ring gear stops, and the planet carrier is rotating at a predetermined reduction of the sun gear input drive; and   when the ring gear begins to rotate in the same direction as the sun gear input drive and the rotation of the ring gear increases until it is equal to the rotation of the sun gear input drive, the planet carrier rotates 1:1 with the sun gear input drive.   
   
   
       21 . The transmission of  claim 20 , wherein, when the planet carrier is rotating 1:1 with the sun gear input drive and the control gear of the orbital gear complex is still rotating, the ring gear rotation increases in speed beyond the speed of rotation of the sun gear input drive, the increase in speed of the ring gear being inversely proportional to the speed of the control gear until rotation of the control gear is prevented and the planet carrier is rotating at a predetermined overdrive of the input drive. 
   
   
       22 . A transmission providing an output gear ratio for a primary engine, the transmission comprising:
 an orbiter gear complex comprising only:
 an input connecting the primary engine to an orbiter web, a control gear and an output gear, all mounted for rotation about a first axis, and 
 at least one cluster gear mounted for rotation on an orbit shaft positioned parallel with the first axis and supported on the orbiter web in mesh with only the control gear and the output gear to permit the orbit shaft and the cluster gear to orbit, respectively, the first axis and the control gear and output gear; 
   wherein a first gear tooth ratio between the cluster gear and the control gear and a second gear tooth ratio between the cluster gear and the output gear are selected such that:
 when rotation of the control gear is prevented, rotation of the orbiter web produces rotation of the output gear at a predetermined overdrive of the input drive provided by the primary engine; and 
 when rotation of the output gear is prevented, rotation of the orbiter web produces rotation of the control gear at a predetermined reduction of the input drive provided by the primary engine; and 
   a control device for providing a resistance torque;   the control gear being responsive to the resistance torque provided by the control device, rotation of the control gear being slowed in proportion to the resistance torque provided by the control device.   
   
   
       23 . The transmission of  claim 22  further comprising:
 a single planetary gear complex having only:
 an input connecting the primary engine to a sun gear meshing with an outside ring gear through a set of planet idle gears mounted on a planet carrier that provides output for the transmission; and 
 the ring gear connecting with the output gear of the orbital gear complex and providing a feed-back torque to the control gear of the orbital gear complex opposing the resistance torque of the control device to decrease the rate of change in the output gear ratio of the transmission between a highest reduction and the predetermined overdrive of the input drive provided by the primary engine. 
   
   
   
       24 . The transmission of  claim 23 , wherein the control device for providing a resistance torque is a hydraulic jack. 
   
   
       25 . The transmission of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the primary engine is an electric motor;   the control device for providing a resistance torque is an electric motor; and   when rotation of the control gear of the orbiter gear complex is prevented, rotation of the orbiter web produces rotation of the output gear at a predetermined reduction of the input drive provided by the primary engine.